i can still recall our last summer

I am looking quite foreward to 2009. It even looks good on paper. 2009. There's power in that nine. It's going to be a good year.

I don't usually do the whole New Years Resolution thing, but I have some things in mind for next year...

1. Acid Reflux (heart burn) diet.
Less grease. More water. Not eating late at night. Lots of small meals a day. Actually taking medicine daily. I plan on doing more research to see what will help, because I'm tired of chest pains.

2. In regards to romance, let the pieces fall where they may
No more stressing out. Need to work on being happy in a relationship, being happy single, just being happy. Also, as we resolved in Italy, don't do weird things.

3. Keep my room clean
hahahahahahahahhahahahahaha. But it's worth trying, right?

4. Wake up no later than 9 on school days
Some days classes don't start until 12, but sleeping in makes me feel so crappy and I really do love the mornings. Only problem is I love staying up late too.

5. Daily scripture study
I have never been good about this, and I really want to be. Especially seeing as I want to serve a mission.

6. Reach out to people more.
Because it's really a simple thing to do.

7. Moderation
I have this horrible habit where I push myself really hard, stressing, not eating/sleeping enough, until I get sick and have to sleep for like a week to get over it.
I also obsess over things and don't think about balance. Like listening to the same songs over and over and eating only Crispix, burritos, and Starburst.

8. Stop letting people control my life
It's getting old bending over backward for people who are just in a habit of manipulating people. But worse, I've forgotten how to make my own decisions.

9. Use my planner
I bought a cute one in Italy that is in four languages. And red. So there is no excuses anymore.

honey, honey, how he thrills me.

quick overview of past days:
too many late nights.
indiana jones....for nine hours straight.
board games two nights in a row.
fun with families (the scott/laws dinner).
stressing over an application that probably won't matter.
8 eps of M*A*S*H in a row.
first married friend.
ABBA.
not packing enough.
and the inexplicable emotions that come as a result of being home.

don't go wasting your emotions.

The following post is brought to you by BURT'S BEES Replenishing Lip Balm, proud sponser of Scrabble (that's right, spooned, for 16 points).

Christmas was excellent and festive. I got a lot of simple things I've been wanting. You know, furry hats, blue/yellow tennis shoes, half a dozen pairs of knee-high socks, an owl necklace, a variety of my usual scent. You know, all a girl needs in life...

Christmas day mum, aunt Sybil, Zoe, Katie and I watched Mamma Mia (song along version) and sang and danced along (okay, I was pretty much the only one dancing). It was amazing. I am going to admit something here...I love that movie WAY more than I should...Especially the first half. But I'm also a total sucker for musicals and ABBA is undeniably catchy. Add that to the hot old guys and gorgeous scenery and you've got a fun little flick. I have been singing the songs non-stop (to everyone's amusement I am sure).

Got bored while playing Scrabble (because I only had vowels!! And was horribly, horribly behind [but I had won at Settlers earlier, so I've still got some street cred]) which means....I played with Star Wars figures and made Burt's Bees Ads. ... Note: Ukiah's face got in the way a lot.

My lame tiles. I was talking (as I tend to do) and said, "A, E, I, O...All I need is U. Awww." So then I thought we should take sad face pictures (Candy was lame and erased hers even though it was good...)

all that's missing is yoU.

Notee: I had a REALLY hard time making a sad face. This was the best of about 100 million tries (or the amount of time it took Nick to make his word)

We can walk out after dark
Because it's Christmas time
Colored lights glow from the park
Because it's Christmas time
And the bells on the reindeer sled say
It's Christmas time
And the quilts on the back of the bed say
It's Christmas time

I think about how we could run away
Now that it's Christmas time
We travel in a one-horse open sleigh
Now that it's Christmas time

There's your father with his pipe
He says it's Christmas time
He might let us stay up all night
Because it's Christmas time
I might wish you all the best
Because it's Christmas time
I might kiss you on the back of your neck
Because it's Christmas time

I think about how we could run away
Now that it's Christmas time
We travel in a one-horse open sleigh
Now that it's Christmas time

'cause it's Christmas time

After 2.5 days without power we got it back last night! Hooray.







Merry Christmas, you wonderful people, you.

fall on your knees

It's the winter solstice in the Northern hemisphere, summer solstice in the Southern hemisphere, and Haiku Day in the U.S. Does that inspire you to write a three-line poem with five syllables in the first and last lines and seven in the middle line?

it is icy out

i could skate on the porch

but instead i won't

we had no power

no lights, oven, or TV

made fudge in the dark

my little brother

wore headphones, sang beatles' songs

and it made me laugh

iz called me today

said our new house is kick a

cheap rent and a dog

it was really, really cliche but we carried on anyway

Watched Mamma Mia last night. A very fun film. I am a sucker for musicals. I have to say, that I liked the first half a lot better than the second. Creating a musical based off ABBA songs was just a good idea. Also watched Lucky You and was lost most of the time because I know absolutely nothing about poker, except the things that are the same in Yahtzee.

FreeRice is really great. But also frustrating/addictive I donated over 11,000 grains of rice last night just trying to get to a higher level on the vocab. It's really cool that they have other subjects now. Caleb is practicing his multiplication tables, I am practicing Italian words. French is fun too. I got to level seven before it became obvious I've never learned french.

More later.

Today in Pictures...

Alex and I constructed an incredible ramp out of snow and created joy for all the children. We went over it one by one...

two by two... three by three...
and 4x4 (photo credit goes to Caleb)


Hilary's mom gave her a light fixture that made a great sled..

until it broke into a million pieces...

Then we played a stimulating game of Pass the Pigs

And our Scrabble game got off to a great start

Not to brag, but I won both Pass the Pigs and Scrabble. :)

And another great moment was when Hilary and I decided to sled down my driveway and I ran into the curb at the bottom and wiped out magnificently.

are you sleeping?

The Past Few Days Have Been Full of Snow and Ice.

We rescued Zoe from her prison (home) in West Salem and she spent the night. Katie came for dinner which, in the preparation stage, involved jumping around the kitchen singing, "Oi! To the world!"

We watched Elf. Which is just a really hilarious movie.
Speaking of Christmas movies, I saw It's a Wonderful Life for the first time Sunday. I do not know why this vital bit of Christmas was not a part of my childhood. I loved it. And I'm sure everyone else in the world knows why I love it.

Today I had breakfast with Hil and Meg. We (and by we I mean Megan's wonderful mother) made French Toast. And ate it.

I hung out with Alex and we explored the cemetary behind his house (after jumping a short fence). Then we had cookies and milk and worked on a puzzle. And this is why I adore Alex, we can go a year or so without seeing each other and then hang out and it's like first grade all over again.

Wanted to go to Dallas, but figured driving on an icy highway with six other lives in the car was not a top dollar idea. Instead went to Muchas Gracias with Cands, Linds, and Leanns.

Also wanted to give blood today, but I have a cold.

i really can't stay

25 things. about me.
inspired by megan knowles
one of those silly facebook things.

1. I have a scar on my lip from a firework
2. My middle name is spelled three different ways on official documents
3. The green mini-van i used to drive was sold to a mariachi band
4. I enjoy public speaking/teaching
5. and I'm not afraid of spiders (so, take that top two most common fears...I'm not afraid of death either!)
6. I know three phrases in Croatian
7. I almost had the Hungarian police called on me (but I'm pretty sure she was bluffing)
8. My friends say I ruin serious conversations by making them laugh
9. I told an Italian the boots didn't match her purse
10. I like star things (even more than Sharlie does :p)
11. Improv is my favourite kind of acting
12. My great-grandma didn't speak English
13. I always want to buy things off infomercials
14. My family didn't get cable until I left for college
15. I dipped my feet in the River Jordan...when I was ten months old
16. I wish I knew a little bit every language
17. I like photography and documentaries because I think the world around us is fascinating
18. I like gummi bears in ice cream and don't care if they get hard
19. I sing when I'm driving alone and get strange looks
20. I think something neon colored should be a part of everyone's wardrobe
21. also argyle socks
22. I hate tabbed browsers
23. I was born at 10:13 on the 23rd of the 5th month. 10+13=23 2+3=5
24. The only time I played commandos/cops n' robbers/run around through the streets like fools i fell off a fence. and later fell into a fountain
25. I often tell stories that have no point
26. I like to be different

Found this video today while looking through pictures. It's mostly hilarious because it's so candid. And exactly how we always acted in Italy. Me trying to get people to follow some obscure plan I came up with. Sharlie helping and encouraging. Cailey worrying about her shoes. Kimberly watching and laughing. And Elizabeth capturing it all and laughing.

Pretzel fangs!